Illuminated head for gear shift levers



Feb. 27, 1934. H. c. FENZLEIN 1,949,155

ILLUMI NATED HEAD FOR GEAR SHIFT LEVERS Filed March 30, 1955 50 5O Henrw CUP 211212111 T B B W M M ATTORNEYS.

Fatented Feb. 27, 1934 KILL'UDHNATED HEAD FOR GEAR SHIFT LEVERS Henry (J. Fenzlein, Mitchell, S. Dak.

Application March 30, 1933. Serial No. 663,627

3 @laims.

This invention relates to illuminated heads for gear shift levers in motor vehicles, for control sticks in aeroplanes and for the free ends of similar levers and control devices.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an attachment for such levers and control devices and having a means for illuminating the free ends of gear shift levers, control sticks and the like, so that a diffused, soft glow will result, in contradistinction to the relatively harsh lights usually resulting when electric light bulbs are placed directly within the hollow knobs or balls forming parts of such attachments.

Another object is to provide an attachment as set out in the first paragraph of this specification, including an illuminated knob or ball and employing a conventional bayonet base electric light bulb instead of the less satisfactory electric light bulb having a candelabra base.

Still another object is to provide an attachment, wherein the electric light bulb is not housed directly within the knob or ball so that, in the event the knob or ball is broken, as by a blow, the electric light bulb will not be broken.

While advantages have been claimed for devices embodying ball-housed electric light bulbs in that this arrangement permits a driver to warm his hands, this is not always advantageous, particularly in warm weather, or when the vehicle is heated, and may be distinctly disadvantageous. In the present arrangement, the portion of the head usually grasped by the driver will be neither warm nor cold, but the driver may employ other portions of the device to warm his hands, if desired.

Still another object is to provide such a device which may be quickly and easily disassembled in part, so that a conventional trouble light may be attached to the bayonet slotted base of the device.

Another object is to provide an attachment as set out, which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, contains but few parts and is of sturdy construction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description, taken in connecton with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which drawing:-

Figure 1 is an elevation of the improved illuminated head in use.

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the same.

Figure 3 is a view partly in section, showing the application of the device in conjunction with a trouble lamp.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only a preferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A designates generally the improved illuminated head for a gear shift lever B or the like. while the letter C designates a conventional electric light bulb and D a conventional trouble lamp.

The illuminated head A includes a two-piece housing consisting of the tubular sections and 11. The section 10 is provided with a preferably interiorly screw threaded end portion 12 and the bore 13 of this section 10 may be enlarged so that a circumferential shoulder 14 is provided spaced from the end 12 and a second circumferential shoulder 15 spaced from the shoulder 14 and relatively close to the opposite end portion 16 of the section 10. This end portion 16 is preferably interiorly screw threaded, as well shown in Figure 2 and 3. It is preferred to perforate the wall of the section 10 as at 17 adjacent the end portion 12 for a purpose later described. The section 11 is provided with an exteriorly screw threaded end portion 18 having a peripheral shoulder 19 so that the sections 10 and 11 may be coupled together at the end portions 16 and 18. The bore 20 at this end portion 18 of the section 11 provides a chamber and is such that the bulb of a conventional electric light may be accommodated therein. Beyond this end portion 18, the bore is sharply reduced in circumference, so that the remainder of the section 11 is somewhat like an inverted funnel in shape, as shown in Figure 2. This results in a somewhat elongate narrow bore 21 for the end portion 22 of the section 11, which end portion 22 may also be called the open end of the housing. Exteriorly, this end portion 22, is preferably screw threaded. The sections 10 and 11 may be of metal, nickelplated if desired.

Carried by the section 10 is a conventional electric light bulb socket 23 having a bayonet slot 24 and so positioned that its open or basereceiving-end 25 faces the open end of the housing. The base 26 or opposite end of the socket 23 preferably rests upon the shoulder 14 and the open end 25 of the socket extends slightly beyond the shoulder 15. Of course it is desirable that the socket fit snugly within the section 10.

Extending through the perforations 17 in the section 10 is 21 preferably electrically insulated conductor 30 which projects into the socket 23 and is there suitably secured so as to provide a stationary contact 31. This conductor 30 may extend along the gear shift lever B and be clamped thereto as by conventional resilient clamps 32, shown in Figures 2 and 3. While not absolutely necessary, it is preferred that the conductor 30 extend from the gear shift lever to a convenient switch (not shown) upon the instrument board of the vehicle. Of course the socket and gear shift lever form a portion of the ground for the current as is well known in the electrical art. Carried at and over the open end 22 of the housing is a member of light pervious material which may comprise a hollow knob of translucent glass having a suitable bushing 41 preferably of metal and interiorly screw threaded and cemented or otherwise secured to the knob 40. This bushing 41 is provided for detachably securing the member to the housing as shown in Figure 1.

From Figure 2 it may be seen that the open end 25 of the socket 23 is so spaced from the open end 22 that a conventional electric light bulb C carried by the socket will be wholly within the housing, within the bore 20, and while close to the walls about this bore, will be well protected by the inverted funnel arrangement of the end portion 22 from injury. This inverted funnel arrangement also serves to conduct the light rays from the bulb C to the hollow knob 40 in such a way that a pleasing, diffused glow emanates from the knob. This inverted funnel arrangement has a third function, for if the driver wishes to warm his hands he may grasp the housing, cupping his hands about. the bevel of the end portion 22 and thus his hands will not slip nor be jarred down the housing.

As for the gear shift lever B, the same may, as well, comprise any similar lever or control device, and includes a rod 50 preferably exteriorly screw threaded at its free end as at 51 for detachably coupling the illuminated head A thereto.

The electric light bulb C is preferably of the type commonly known as a bayonet-base bulb and includes a. hollow transparent glass globe 60 and a metallic base having a pin or tip 62 for engagement with the bayonet slot 24 of the socket 23. This bulb C also has a conventional contact for engagement with the contact 31.

While the housing, in whole or in part, may be a permanent portion of the gear shift lever B, it is preferred to couple the housing to the gear shift lever B by means of the screw threads 51 and the screw threads at the end portion 12 of the section 10. With the section 11 removed, an electric light bulb C may be electrically connected as shown and the housing 11 replaced, while the knob may be then coupled to the housing. Should it be desired to couple a conventional trouble lamp D thereto, the section 11 carrying the knob is removed as well as the electric light bulb B and the conventional bayonet-base '70 at the end of the elongate electric conductor '71 inserted into the socket 23 making contact as shown in Figure 3. The lamp '72 at the opposite end of the conductor 71 may then be employed as desired. Since many motorists find it rather difficult to easily attach a trouble lamp when the most convenient place of attachment is the lamp socket for the concealed bulb provided for illumihating the instrument board, the very easy and convenient method provided herein will enable the motorist to quickly and eifectively use his trouble lamp. The gear shift lever of the average motor vehicle being located on subsantially the longitudinal medial line of the vehicle, it can be seen that by attaching the base of the trouble lamp to the end of the gear shift lever, the lamp '72 and conductor '71 may be moved to either side of the vehicle equally as well.

The electric light bulb C being located, not within the knob,but some distance therefrom,wi1l not cause the knob to heat up but on the contrary, the metallic housing will heat to an extent where a comfortable degree of heat will be provided for the hands of the motorist if he but grasps the metallic housing.

By the use of the bayonet-base electric light bulb, rather than the weaker candle power and generally shorter lived candelabra base bulb, a better degree of heat and illumination is provided and the bulb will not require so frequent changing.

Various changes may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an illuminated head for a gear shift lever, an elongate metallic housing carried at the free end of said lever, said housing having an open end and an electric light bulb socket, said socket having its open end facing the open end of said housing, the open end of said housing having an inverted funnel-shaped bore .and the outer surface of the walls of said housing about said bore being beveled and substantially conforming to the shape of the surface of said bore, and a member of light-pervious material carried at and over the open end of said housing, the outer surface of said member sloping inwardly towards said beveled surface, providing a decidedly narrowed neck between said members and said housing, the open end of said socket being spaced from the open end of said housing, so that a conventional electric light bulb carried by said socket will be wholly within said housing.

2. In an illuminated head for a gear shift lever, an elongate housing carried at one end by the free end of said lever, said housing having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough and having a circumferentially reduced portion at the end opposite the above mentioned end thereof, said reduced portion having a downwardly and outwardly sloping outer surface, said housing provided with an electric light bulb socket, said socket having its open end facing said open end of the housing, and a member of light-pervious material carried at and over the extremity of said last named end of said housing and with its outer surface sloping inwardly toward said outer beveled surface of said reduced portion, whereby an hour-glass-shaped neck is provided by said member and said housing.

3. In a device of the class described, a metallic tubular housing having an open end sharply restricted in outer and inner circumference at one end portion thereof, having means at its other end portion for attachment to a gear shift lever and the like, and also provided with an electric light bulb socket with the open end portion thereof facing said restricted end portion of said housing, axially aligned therewith and disposed so as to be spaced inwardly of said restricted end portion, the bore of said tubular housing being enlarged in circumference adjacent the open end of said socket, providing an electric light bulb chamber within said housing and communicating with said restricted open end of the housing, a member of light-pervious material disposed at and over said open end portion with the outer surface of said member sloping inwardly to said restricted open end, and an electric light bulb carried in said socket and with its globe portion close adiacent and surrounded by the walls of said chamber including said walls at said restricted open end, whereby said chamber walls at said restricted open end will be heated by the heat generated by said bulb when energized.

HENRY C. FENZLEIN. 

